Exercise apparatus

ABSTRACT

An isometric exercise apparatus of the sit-down type having a base and in which footrests carried by a first post pivoted on the base enable isometric resistance to pulling or pushing on a second post intermediately pivoted at the user&#39;s seat, the second post being linked to the first post in alternate arrangements of a common link, depending on which muscles are to be exercised.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to exercise apparatus, and more particularly, toan isometric exercise apparatus affording isometric exercise of allmajor muscles in a simple device which is readily adjustable fordifferent sets of exercises by shifting the point of link attachment ona pivoted post.

BACKGROUND ART

Numerous exercise devices are known, including those disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 4,300,760 to Bobroff, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,822,038 to Maag, inU.S. Pat. No. 4,784,121 to Brooks, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,363 to Shi, inU.S. Pat. No. 4,743,010, to Geraci, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,833 toTrethewy, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,248,420 to Hayes, in U.S. Pat. No.3,792,860 to Selnes, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,446,503, and in U.S. Pat. No.3,000,632 to Fuchs. None of these devices provide a variety of isometricexercises as a function of different locations of link attachment to apivoted post.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an exerciseapparatus of the isometric type which by a simple adjustment can be usedto exercise a wide variety of muscles. It is another object to providean isometric exercise apparatus in which the upper body muscles areworked against the leg and lower body muscles in an alternating mannerdependent on the location of the link attachment.

These and other objects of the invention to become apparent hereinafterare realized in an isometric exercise apparatus having a base, a seatsupported on the base for the user, a first endwise pivoted post spaceda first distance from the seat and arranged for outward foot pressure, asecond post spaced a second lesser distance from the seat, having upperand lower portions and pivoted therebetween, the second post beingarranged for inward or outward arm pressure, and a link linking thefirst post to the upper or lower portions of the second post for pullingor pushing force respectively on the second post against the resistanceof foot pressure on the first post.

In this and like embodiments, the base comprises a longitudinallyextended member and a cross member arranged to provide at least threepoints of contact of the apparatus with its supporting surface, the linkis length-adjustable, the second post is pivoted adjacently below andforward of the seat, and there is further included a first cross arm onthe first post defining a footrest on either side of the first post, anda second cross arm on the second post defining a hand rest on eitherside of the second post the first and second cross arms lying ingenerally parallel planes.

In a preferred embodiment, the base, link and first and second postsdefine a four-bar linkage with alternate locations of the link bar onthe second post, there is further included a seat pedestal supportingthe seat on the base, the seat pedestal including a third post extendingvertically from the base, and a seat support cantilevered from the thirdpost, the second post being pivoted on the seat support, there isfurther included a plurality of pivot mounts for the first post, eachdifferently spaced from the seat, and a plurality of pivot mounts forthe second post, each differently spaced from the first post, wherebythe apparatus is adjustable for different users, the base comprises alongitudinally extended member and a cross member arranged to provide atleast three points of contact of the apparatus with its supportingsurface, the link is length-adjustable, and the second post is pivotedadjacently below and forward of the seat.

In a highly preferred embodiment of the apparatus, there is provided anisometric exercise apparatus having a longitudinally extended basecomprising forward and rearward portions arranged to stably support theapparatus on a floor, the base forward portion having a first pivotmount thereon; a seat pedestal fixed to the base rearward portion; aseat mounted on the seat pedestal; a second pivot mount carriedforwardly on the seat pedestal below the seat; a first post pivotallymounted endwise to the pivot mount and extending generally verticallytherefrom, the first post having a first post cross arm arranged toreceive the feet of a user seated on the seat; a second post pivotallymounted intermediate its ends on the second pivot mount and extendinggenerally vertically therefrom in the same vertical plane as the firstpost, the second post having a second post cross arm generally in ahorizontal plane parallel to the horizontal plane of the first crossarm, the second cross arm being arranged to receive the hands of a user,the second post having third and fourth pivot mounts at upper and lowerends thereof respectively; a link arm pivotally mounted to the firstpivot mount and to the second or third pivot mounts alternatively forisometric exercise either by pulling with the arms on the second postcross arm with the link extending between the second post and the thirdpivot mount or pushing on the second post cross arm with the linkextending between the second post and the fourth pivot mount, each whilethe user's feet push against the first cross arm in isometric resistanceto movement of the second cross arm by pulling or pushing respectively,whereby different groups of muscles are exercised in response tolocation of the link on the first post and the use of pulling or pushingmovement of the arms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be further described in conjunction with the attacheddrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention apparatus, with the linkin a first position for exercises involving pulling with the armsagainst resistance of the legs;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the apparatus; and

FIG. 3 is a view like FIG. 2, with the link in a second position forexercises involving pushing with the arms against resistance of thelegs.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1-3, the apparatus is shown at 10 and includes abase 12, a seat 14, and a first endwise pivoted post 16, spaced adistancefrom the seat, as shown, for comfort of the user. The apparatusfurther includes a second post 18 which is spaced a lesser distance, asshown, from the seat 14. The second post 18 has upper portion 20 andlower portion 22 and is pivoted at 24 between the upper and lowerportions. A link 26, comprising a rigid bar having telescoping innersection 28 and outer section 30 perforated for mutual registration indifferent degrees of extension and held by pin 32 is pivotally mountedon second post 18 at the upper portion 20 thereof in FIGS. 1 and 2 andat the lower portion 22 thereof in FIG. 3, for purposes to appear. Thelink 26 in FIGS. 1 and 2 isconnected to the second post at 34, above thepivot 24 and this arrangementadapts the apparatus for arm pullingexercises. In the position shown in FIG. 3, the link 26 is connected at36 below the pivot 24, and this arrangement adapts the apparatus for armpushing exercises. In both instances the exercise is isometric with thelegs as will be described.

The apparatus base 12 comprises a longitudinally extended member 42 anda cross member 44, welded or otherwise secured together and arranged toprovide a three point contact of the apparatus to the floor surface (notshown). The first post 16 is pivoted between ears 46 mounted on member42 (shown to be longitudinally adjustable in FIGS. 2 and 3). A thirdpost 48 is rises from the member 42 and forms a bracket for seat 14.Post 48 is curved to extend slightly forward of the seat 14, and carriesa bracket 52comprising spaced flanges 54, through one of a pair ofregistered openings 56 in which a removable pin 58 extends. Second post18 has a transverse opening (not shown) adapted to receive the pin 58when the second post 18 is positioned between flanges 54, thus to bepivoted for rocking about thepin 58 just before the seat 14.

Link 26 connects by pin 62 to mounting ears 34a at 34 on the second post18or by pin 64 to mounting ears 36a at 36 on second post 18. In theformer position, the user exercises by grasping with the hands uppercross bar 66and pulling against the force of the legs applied by theuser's feet to thelower cross bar 68. The upper cross bar 66 is returnedto position by letting the legs overpower the arms, and the pullingexercise is repeated.

With reference to FIG. 3, the link 26 is mounted between ears 36a onsecondpost 18 and the first post. In this alignment, the apparatus isset up for pushing exercises with the arms. The hands grasp the uppercross bar 66 asbefore but because the link 26 is on the opposite side ofthe pivot 24, theleg resistance is felt during a pushing motion ratherthan a pulling motion.

In both configurations, the leg force is kept in balance with the armforceand the muscles involved in the respective pushing and pullingmotions and leg resistance are toned isometrically.

The apparatus is advantageous is being simple in construction, widelyvariable in exercises performable, adaptable to different sizeindividual with easy adjustments, low in cost and free of complexitiesof pulleys andfree weights.

We claim:
 1. An isometric exercise apparatus having a base, a seat, aseat pedestal, supporting said seat on said base seat, a first endwisepivoted post spaced a first distance from said seat, a first cross armon said first post defining a foot rest on either side of said firstpost arranged for outward foot pressure, a second post spaced a secondlesser distance from said seat, having upper and lower portions andpivoted therebetween, a second cross arm on said second post defining ahand rest on either side of said second post arranged for inward oroutward arm pressure, said first and second cross arms lying ingenerally parallel planes, and a link linking said first post to theupper or lower portions of said second post for pulling or pushing forcerespectively on said second post against the resistance of foot pressureon said first post, said seat pedestal comprising a third post rigidlyattached to and extending from said base and a seat support, said secondpost being pivoted on said seat support.
 2. The isometric exerciseapparatus according to claim 1, in which said base comprises alongitudinally extended member and a cross member arranged to provide atleast three points of contact of the apparatus with its supportingsurface.
 3. The isometric exercise apparatus according to claim 1, inwhich said link is length-adjustable.
 4. The isometric exerciseapparatus according to claim 1, in which said second post is pivotedadjacently below and forward of said seat on said seat support.
 5. Theisometric exercise apparatus according to claim 1 in which said base,link and first and second posts define a four-bar linkage with alternatelocations of the link bar on the second post.
 6. The isometric exerciseapparatus according to claim 1, including also a plurality of pivotmounts for said first post, each differently spaced from said seat, anda plurality of pivot mounts for said second post, each differentlyspaced from said first post, whereby said apparatus is adjustable fordifferent users.
 7. The isometric exercise apparatus according to claim1, in which said base comprises a longitudinally extended member and across member arranged to provide at least three points of contact of theapparatus with its supporting surface.
 8. The isometric exerciseapparatus according to claim 7, in which said link is length-adjustable.9. The isometric exercise apparatus according to claim 8, in which saidsecond post is pivoted adjacently below and forward of said seat on saidseat support.
 10. An isometric exercise apparatus having alongitudinally extended base comprising forward and rearward portionsarranged to stably support said apparatus on a floor, said base forwardportion having a first pivot mount thereon; a seat pedestal fixed tosaid base rearward portion; a seat mounted on said seat pedestal; asecond pivot mount carried forwardly on said seat pedestal below saidseat; a first post pivotally mounted endwise to said first pivot mountand extending generally vertically therefrom, said first post having afirst post cross arm arranged to receive the feet of a user seated onsaid seat; a second post pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on saidsecond pivot mount and extending generally vertically therefrom in thesame vertical plane as said first post, said second post having a secondpost cross arm generally in a horizontal plane parallel to thehorizontal plane of said first cross arm, said second cross arm beingarranged to receive the hands of a user, said second post having thirdand fourth pivot mounts at upper and lower ends thereof respectively; alink arm pivotally mounted to said first pivot mount and to said thirdor fourth pivot mounts alternatively for isometric exercise either bypulling with the arms on said second post cross arm with said linkextending between said second post and said third pivot mount or pushingon said second post cross arm with said link extending between saidsecond post and said fourth pivot mount, each while the user's feet pushagainst said first cross arm in isometric resistance to movement of saidsecond cross arm by pulling or pushing respectively, whereby differentgroups of muscles are exercised in response to location of said link onsaid first post and the use of pulling or pushing movement of the arms.